AVRO Anson Mk I

 

Die Anson
war einer der ersten Eindecker, die die R.A.F. in Dienst stellte. Die ersten Ansons wurden als Mehrzweck­Aufklärer gebaut und waren bei Kriegsbeginn bereits wieder veraltet. Dennoch bildeten sie 1939 das Rückgrat des R.A.F.-Küstenkommandos bis sie ab 1941 abgelöst wurden. Unser Modell (bild oben) entspricht einer Maschine aus der Anfangszeit des Krieges, wie sie bei der 217 R.A.F.-Staffel eingesetzt und von holländischen Freiwilligen geflogen wurde. Das Orange-Dreieck war damals Hoheits- und Kennzeichen holländischer Maschinen.
 


Avro Anson - Duxford Air Show 2005
 

Nach 1941 kamen die Ansons von Fronteinsätzen zu Schluen und Verbindungsstaffeln. Noch heute trifft man sie vereinzelt an.

2 Armstrong-Siddeley Cheetah Sternmotoren, je 350 PS, verliehen der Anson I eine Geschwindigkeit von über 300k.m.h., die Reichweite betrug rund 1.200km An Bomben konnten 2 x 45kg. Bomben und bis zu 8 x 9 Bomben im Rumpfflügel-Mittelstück untergebracht werden Abmessungen: Spannweite 17.22m. Lange 12.87m.

 

 

 

 

Avro Anson MK.I in RAF service from 1936 as a high bomber, crew trainer, transport and reconnaissance aircraft.

 

The Anson Mk I was the RAF´s first monoplane and first aircraft, with a retractable (though hand-operated) undercarriage, It with Coastal Command in February 1936, and squadrons at the outbreak of the Second World on 3 September 1939. Ansons made the first RAF attack of the ­war an submarine, on 5 September 1939.

But the “Annie” was already outdated as a bomber and by the end of 1940had been largely replaced.

 

The Anson's main wartime role was as a crew trainer. In the vast Commonwealth Air Training Plan, introduced in 1939, almost all British and Commonwealth navigators, wireless operators and air gunners trained on Ansons. Other wartime roles were air/sea rescue, transport, communications, Special Duties and radar calibration.

 

After the war, later versions of the Anson were used mainly for transport purposes by military and civil operators. The last six Ansons were retired from the RAF in 1968. Ansons also served with twelve other air forces throughout the world. Over 11,000 were built between 1935 and 1952

 

Engines

Two 350 hp Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah IX seven cylinder radials

 

Armament

One 0,303 in Vickers machine gun firing forward

One 0,303 in Vickers machine gun in turret

163kg (360 lb) bomb load

Performance

Maximum speed:

 300 kph (188mph)

Cruising speed:

 245 kmh (158 mph)

Service ceiling:

 5,791 m (19,000 ft)

Range:

1,062 km (680 miles)

 

Dimensions

Wing span:

7,22m (65 ft 6 in)

Length:

12,87 m (42 ft 3 in)

Height:

3,99 m (13 ft 1 in)

 

Weight

Empty:

3,438 kg (5,375 lb)

Loaded:

3,692 kg (8,000 lb)


One of the Avro Ansons at the Duxford Air Show 2005
 

The Anson was one of the first monoplanes to be adopted by the R.A.F. The first Ansons were built as general reconnaissance aircraft, and although almost obsolescent by the time war was declared in 1939 they formed the backbone of Coastal Command until replaced in 1941. The particular aircraft selected for this model is typical of the early war time Ansons. Operated by 217 Squadron R.A.F., this aircraft was flown by an all Dutch crew and carries the triangular fin markings used by Dutch aircraft.